PINOY POP POTPOURRI ... Snippets of Filipino life from a true-blue Filipino.

From Nuffnang

Saturday, March 1, 2014

This Week in Philippine History and Culture (March 1 to 7)

Mar. 1, 1888: Some native Filipinos and mestizos marched to the official residence of Jose Centeno, the acting civil governor of Manila, and demanded the expulsion of the friars of the religious orders, and of the Archbishop. They claimed that these members of the clergy were unworthy to occupy the Primacy of the Philippine Islands.

Mar. 2, 1919: Filipina revolutionary Melchora Aquino de Ramos (b. January 6, 1812), popularly known as Tandang Sora (Elder Sora) dies in the town of Kalookan at the age of 107. Aquino assisted sick and wounded members of the revolutionary group Katipunan during their fight for the establishment of a country independent from Spain. Secret meetings of the group were also clandestinely conducted in Aquino's house.

Mar. 2, 1964: Senate President Ferdinand Marcos announces he is seeking the Presidency of the Republic during a speech before Rotary and Lions club members in Dumaguete City. In the 1965 elections, Marcos went on to became the standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party.

Marcos defeated the incumbent Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party. He went on to rule the country for the next two decades. Marcos' victory is a highlight of the 1965 biopic Iginuhit ng Tadhana (Destined by Fate).

Mar. 3, 1924: Film actress and singer Lilian Velez (d. June 26, 1948) is born in the city of Cebu. Velez's popularity started to rise after winning an amateur radio singing contest in the mid-1930s. She popularized the Sa Kabukiran, a song composed by her father, before the outbreak of Second World War.

The end of the war marked the start of Velez's movie career with LVN Pictures. Her stint in film, however, was cut short by the murder committed by her perennial screen partner, Narding Anzures, in 1948.

Mar. 3, 1945: Joint American and Filipino troops recapture the Philippine city of Manila from the forces of the Japanese Imperial Army. It can be recalled that three years earlier, the Japanese declared Manila as an "open city."

Mar. 3, 1952: Multi-awarded actor and movie producer Rodolfo Valentino Padilla Fernandez, popularly known as Rudy Fernandez (d. June 7, 2008) is born in Manila. The movie career of Fernandez began in 1970 when he signed a contract with Sampaguita Pictures. It was his breakthrough role in the 1976 film Bitayin si Baby Ama (Execute Baby Ama) that launched him as a bankable actor in the action genre.

Fernandez won the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award for Best Actor twice: for Batuigas ... Pasukuin si Waway (Batuigas ... Make Waway to Surrender) in 1984 and Operation: Get Victor Corpuz, The Rebel Soldier in 1988. Refelection Films, Fernandez's own company, produced many of his movies.

Mar. 4, 1879: Educator and suffragist Rosa Sevilla de Alvero (d. May 11, 1954) is born in Tondo, Manila. Sevilla was among those at the forefront in fighting for Filipino women's right to vote and to be voted in elective office, which
has led to the election of two women presidents for the country.

Mar. 5, 1906: United States Army troops bring overwhelming force against the native Moros in the First Battle of Bud Dajo in Jolo Island, leaving only six survivors. Two days later 21 were killed and 75 were wounded from the U.S. Army troops. At least 794 Moros were died in action.

Mar. 6, 1951: Fort Santiago is declared a National Shrine in commemoration of heroes and martyrs who had been imprisoned and lost their lives there. Most notable of these heroes is Dr. Jose Rizal who was executed in 1896.

Mar. 7, 1989: Film and television actor Gerald Anderson is born in Subic, Zambales. Anderson's showbiz career started when he became a housemate in the reality television program Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition. Anderson's reel-and-real love team with Kim Chiu eventually became a hit among fans.

Some of Anderson's hit television programs include Sana Maulit Muli, My Girl, Tayong Dalawa, and Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo. He is also one of the lead actors in the 2013 internationally-acclaimed action film On the Job.